Notes from Gone Girl

I really liked this book by Gillian Flynn; both characters were equally awful, and you kept switching sides in thinking which one was telling the truth or messing with the other one’s mind. Neither of them were likeable, and the fact that you kept reading – fast, to see what happened – despite that, is a testament to her good writing.

I found the a, b, c options Amy does for her potential reactions to things an interesting device; taking the asinine format of womens’ mag multiple choice questions and turning them into dark, cold-hearted calculations

Isn’t that the point of every relationship: to be known by someone else, to be understood? he gets me, she gets me — p 33

our society was utterly, ruinously derivative… we were the first human beings who would never see anything for the first time… I can’t recall a single mazing thing I have seen first-hand that I didn’t immediately reference to a movie or tv show. a fucking commercial… it’s a very difficult era to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits… and if all of us are play action, there can be no such thing as a soul mate, because we don’t have genuine souls. (Amy) — p 80-81

you are turning me into what i have never been and never wanted to be (Amy) — p 95

in truth, I wanted her to read my mind… I was sometimes as guilty of playing the figure-me-out game as Amy was… I’m a big fan of the lie of omission. (Nick) — p150

I carry on an inner monologue, but the words don’t often reach my lips… I’d been raised to listen (Amy) — p202

she’d wait for me to fix it. it was like i was in charge of her happiness. (Nick) — p202

you always do the little fib if you think it will avoid an argument, you’ve always gone the easy way… you’re still desperate for everyone to think you’re perfect – (Go, talking to Nick) — p225

he wants cool girl, who is basically the girl who likes every fucking thing he likes and doesn’t ever complain (Amy) — p251

(Nick) who destroyed and rejected the real me a piece at a time – you’re too serious Amy, you overthink things, you analyze too much, you’re no fun, you make me feel useless, Amy, you make feel bad, Amy…. I gave, and he took (Amy) — p268

Nick’s nightmares have always been about being wronged, about being trapped, a victim of forces beyond his control (Amy) — p278

(being an only child) makes you desperate to be flawless, it also makes you drunk with the power. in such ways are despots made (Amy) — p292